Lucy Sarah Rutherford born 21 March 1843

Lucy Sarah Rutherford was born 21 March 1843, in Ipswich MA, daughter of John W and Mary Jane (Spiller) Rutherford. She was counted in the 1850 census with her parents, in Ipswich. She was also counted with them in the 1855 state census.

In 1860, Lucy was working as a domestic in the George Lambert residence in Rowley, MA. In 1865, she was with her parents and siblings in Ipswich. I have not yet located her in 1870.

Lucy married Andrew P Felton on 21 March 1871. The marriage was recorded in both Ipswich and Haverhill, MA. She was his second wife. Lucy and Andrew had a son born 29 August 1872 in Ipswich. He died at age 3 days. A second son, John, was born and died 18 July 1874 in Ipswich. A third son, Albert Austin Felton, was born 29 December 1875 in Ipswich, and died in 1941 in Oregon.

Lucy was counted in the 1880 census in Ipswich, with her husband Andrew, and son Albert. She is listed in the 1890 Ipswich city directory at 17 Pleasant, widow of Andrew P.

Andrew P Felton was a Civil War veteran with an invalid’s pension. After Andrew died in 1891, Lucy applied for a widow’s pension. As part of that, she provided a copy of her marriage record listing the marriage as March 21, 1871. The application lists her maiden name (Lucy S Rutherford), and states that it was her first marriage, and his second, his first being dissolved by the death of his first wife. The application states that their only child is Albert Austin Felton, born in Ipswich 29 Dec 1875. Her claim states that she has no income other than her daily labor, but that they have a small cottage house with its lot, about 1/8 of an acre. The property produced no income but it saved her from having to pay rent elsewhere. The soldier left but one child who is now under the age of sixteen years. [The soldier also had a daughter from the first marriage, Josephine, but she died before her father.] The death record provided with Lucy’s claim listed Andrew’s father as Samuel, and his mother as Eliza Pastor. The application included Albert’s birth record. The record included Lucy’s marriage record, but this form says that they were married in Ipswich. The application includes the record of Andrew’s first wife’s death – Lydia, died Feb 25th, 1859. It appears that Lucy had a pension of $12 per month.

She is listed again in 1897, with son Albert, at 17 Pleasant. Her occupation was “washing.”

In the 1900 census, Lucy S Felton was listed in Ipswich with Albert. By 1910, she was boarding with the Howard Smith family, at 19 Pleasant, so they were her neighbors, before she moved in with them. She is listed there in the 1912 directory.

In 1913, according to the pension records, a conservator was appointed for her, as Lucy was adjudged incompetent. She died 30 September, 1914.

Lucy is buried at the Ipswich Cemetery (Highland aka Old North) with Andrew P Felton. A small stone on the lot says OUR BABIES, Children of AP and LS Felton. Andrew’s first wife Lydia is also buried there.